LivOn Basketballhttp://www.livonbasketball.com
LivOn Basketball a full service basketball business founded by former NBA player Randy LivingstonThu, 05 Apr 2018 21:43:12 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.17Big decision lies aheadhttp://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2016/07/08/chantelhorvat/
http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2016/07/08/chantelhorvat/#commentsFri, 08 Jul 2016 22:20:45 +0000http://www.livonbasketball.com/?p=1698Horvat’s recruiting heats up A top prospect in the 2017 class, Chantel Horvat, a native of Geelong, Victoria (Australia) has seen her recruitment heat up recently, and for good reason. Horvat, a 6’2” versatile wing, who is currently on a scholarship with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra, was training with Australia’s representative team […]

A top prospect in the 2017 class, Chantel Horvat, a native of Geelong, Victoria (Australia) has seen her recruitment heat up recently, and for good reason.

Horvat currently plays for the Centre of Excellence.

Horvat, a 6’2” versatile wing, who is currently on a scholarship with the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra, was training with Australia’s representative team (the Opals), when she was noticed by veteran Opals member, Penny Taylor, who also plays for the Phoenix Mercury.

It was Taylor who put the call in to UCONN‘s Head Coach and friend, Geno Auriemma, alerting him to Horvat’s talent and suggesting UCONN take a look at her. A month or so later, after doing their due diligence, Horvat received an email from UCONN’s Assistant Coach Shea Ralph inquiring about her interest in playing college basketball and expressing their desire to recruit her.

When a program like UCONN, a school that exudes excellence and has a winning record to back it up, shows interest, it puts the whole recruiting process into perspective.

According to Horvat herself, “It’s pretty surreal to think that UCONN is now also one of the schools that are recruiting me. Their presence will definitely make it harder to make a decision now.”

Horvat’s proud family includes parents, Steve and Tina, siblings Ben, Evan and Neve, and the family spaniel, Sassy.

Horvat’s parents, former Australian Socceroo Steve Horvat and his wife Tina added, “The addition of UCONN now being in the pool of schools recruiting Chantel is high praise for how far she has come as a basketballer. Obviously, they have been the most successful women’s college program in the past 20 years and for them to believe Chantel has a role to play there is an honour. Having said that, she is fortunate to have such an amazing list of schools that are interested in her. She has made us proud and we have no doubt she will continue to do so.”

With official visits coming up in the Fall, Horvat and her family recognise the importance of the decision that lies ahead for her. Horvat is eyeing her next step with careful attention to detail. Horvat commented, “There will be a number of factors that will come into play when I make the final decision. The conference, academics, player development, location and the overall vibe of the college, amongst other things, are all factors I will be taking into account.”

Horvat makes a lay up during a SEABL game for the CoE.

Further, Horvat noted “I haven’t locked in the 5 schools I will be visiting as it’s proving to be a difficult task to try to narrow that list down. I feel very honoured with the list of schools that have shown an interest in recruiting me.”

Per usual, for an Australian talent like Horvat, the recruiting process has been lengthy which her parents highlighted. “The recruiting has lasted well over 12 months now, and we have been mindful of Chantel’s emotions not getting too up or down throughout the process. We have tried to keep her focused on the present, her schooling, and CoE Scholarship…the college stuff will sort itself out eventually after the visits.”

Her parents followed up, “The decision of where to go to college will be hers and will most likely come down to the visits, however, we would like Chantel to go to a college that will push her both academically as well as on the basketball court. Having faith in our daughter’s ability and her happiness is our ultimate goal.”

There is no doubt that Horvat will be a positive addition to whichever school she ultimately decides upon, and she will continue to play a significant role in the Australian program as well. Horvat looks set to grow both as a basketball player and as a person in the coming months as her big decision awaits.

Australian women’s basketball has been shining on the international stage of late, and Horvat’s interest from UCONN is just another indication of that.

]]>http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2016/07/08/chantelhorvat/feed/1Keanu Pinder signs with Arizonahttp://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2016/05/14/keanu-pinder-signs-with-arizona/
http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2016/05/14/keanu-pinder-signs-with-arizona/#commentsSat, 14 May 2016 08:50:15 +0000http://www.livonbasketball.com/?p=1664Keanu Pinder, the 6’9″ athletic forward from Perth WA, signed a National Letter of Intent with Arizona this morning after visiting several top Division I schools. “Arizona has a winning tradition and I believe playing for Coach Miller will enhance my ability to play at the next level. That’s why I feel like Arizona is […]

Keanu Pinder, the 6’9″ athletic forward from Perth WA, signed a National Letter of Intent with Arizona this morning after visiting several top Division I schools.

“Arizona has a winning tradition and I believe playing for Coach Miller will enhance my ability to play at the next level. That’s why I feel like Arizona is the best place for me,” Pinder said.

With a history of sending players to the NBA, Arizona has many features that attracted Pinder. “Playing in the post season is a dream of mine,” confides Pinder, “I feel like Coach Miller can motivate me to be the best player I can be, to help me reach my goals, and help the team compete at the highest level. My role will be to come in and get rebounds and score where I can.”

Pinder will join Arizona after a two year stint at Hutch Junior College where he went to the National Championship, an experience he feels has given him a level of maturity and leadership that will stand him in good stead when he joins the Wildcats. “I’ve been through it before, twice. The first year we went to the post season and were knocked out early. I learned my lesson and the next year came through with a better attitude and we made it to the Championship game.”

Pinder’s mother, Tracey Smith, said “I’m very proud of Keanu and everything he’s achieved. His love of the game and commitment to always improving has really impressed me. He has grown into a responsible young man, making his own decisions, and I am looking forward to seeing him get on with the job and do what he has set his mind to.” Tracey, who has supported Pinder’s basketball career from an early age added “I would definitely love to visit Arizona and see him play.”

Keanu with his mother, Tracey Smith

Tracey will be getting that opportunity sooner than later with Pinder planning to return to the USA in the U.S. summer to start working out with his new teammates. “I’ll be heading over early June to work on my game and get stronger. My aim is to reach 235lbs so I can be in the best shape of my life and really compete for minutes at the power forward position,” Pinder said.

]]>http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2016/05/14/keanu-pinder-signs-with-arizona/feed/5William McDowell Whitehttp://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/09/05/william-mcdowell-white-new/
http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/09/05/william-mcdowell-white-new/#commentsSat, 05 Sep 2015 20:50:26 +0000http://www.livonbasketball.com/?p=1535Like Father, Like Son – William McDowell-White set to make a mark in his chosen sport, like his father before him. There is excitement brewing in basketball circles, with coaches, scouts and fans wondering just how far William McDowell-White can go. It seems universally agreed that the sky’s the limit for this promising Class of […]

]]>Like Father, Like Son – William McDowell-White
set to make a mark in his chosen sport,
like his father before him.

There is excitement brewing in basketball circles, with coaches, scouts and fans wondering just how far William McDowell-White can go. It seems universally agreed that the sky’s the limit for this promising Class of 2016 point guard who hails from Queensland.

Darryl White in his heyday, playing in the AFL for the Brisbane Lions in 2003.

McDowell-White is the son of AFL football star, Darryl White, who is a triple Premiership winner with the Brisbane Lions, an inductee of the AFLNT Hall of Fame and a member of the AFL Indigenous Team of the Century, “there’s a lot of Aboriginal players who played over the last 100 years so getting picked in the final 24 positions out of that mob was a real honour,” Darryl says with pride.

William McDowell-White is White’s second son (after Darryl Junior). McDowell-White has played basketball since he was five years old. “Dad was the first person to recognise I had a talent for basketball. He was the first one to put a basketball in my hands,” says McDowell-White, adding, “I tried playing AFL too, but I kept growing and Dad pushed me more towards basketball, and I just loved basketball better.”

Usually sports stars encourage their children to pursue their own sport. This case is unique because in addition to loving football, White is also a huge basketball fan. “I really loved Magic Johnson, basketball is all I wanted to do, but I ended up getting drafted into the AFL so that was that. Now I’m getting the chance to share my love of basketball with my kids.”

Most of White’s seven children have played both AFL and basketball, including his two daughters, but most seem to agree with dad, that basketball is the sport with a bigger future. “You can’t play AFL outside Australia, but basketball is an international game, you can play all over the world and for William, the world is his oyster.”

White is referring to McDowell-White’s potential as a basketball player, which became apparent pretty early, as McDowell-White explains, “there was one time when we went up to Darwin for a family holiday and I played Dad one-on-one. I was about 10 years old, and I beat him. So I thought ‘if I can beat him at 10 I must be pretty good.’ I was pretty hot that day. I don’t think I really missed a shot.” That moment was a turning point for McDowell-White, setting him on the path to success.

McDowell-White is quick to point out that his success on the court is a family affair. “The two people who have had the most influence on me have been Mum and Dad. They are the ones who are constantly pushing me because they know what I could achieve.” McDowell-White elaborates, “My biggest role model is Dad for sure because he has been at the top of his profession. But the person I look up to the most is Mum. She has had to deal with a lot, with my Dad being away for work a lot and she had to take care of everything.”

Mums are often the unsung behind-the-scenes heroes who don’t seem to get as much credit as they should. Bianca McDowell is no exception. McDowell is not only a huge supporter of McDowell-White but she seems to be the glue that sticks the whole family together. “Mum is probably the biggest part of all this. She pretty much does everything for me. She takes care of me and makes sure everything is alright. She is pretty much the reason why I am this good right now. Mum is the core of everything.”

Coming from a tight-knit family environment has certainly given McDowell-White every chance to thrive. Making the family an inner sanctum, where everyone can relax and be themselves is really important to Darryl White, who knows from his own experience playing football, how important having that trusted support system really is. “You need mentors,” confirms White, “I had a few. Michael McLean was a father figure to a lot of us Indigenous boys. He gave us the fatherly advice as well as the footy advice that we needed to succeed. Martin Leslie and Roger Merrett both helped me too. I wouldn’t have made it as far as I did without their advice. When you come from a place where you are surrounded by family 24×7, to somewhere that you don’t have any family, you really need those shoulders to lean on.”

“Gathering those right people around you at the start is so important,” continues White, “you only play professionally for a short time. I played for 14 years and that time went really quickly. You’re going to miss home, you’re going to miss friends and family. You only have a short career, work hard and make the most of it. The harder you work early, they better it will be down the track. If you give 120% and make mistakes you wont do that bad.”

White moved his family to northern Queensland to fulfil a work contract, but Alice Springs is still home. “My wife is from Darwin so we are Territory people, but unfortunately we don’t get back there as often as we’d like.”

William McDowell-White with Randy Livingston at the 2015 U18 Australian Junior Championship.

White is confident that when McDowell-White leaves home to pursue a career in basketball, that he will create his own inner circle of trusted friends and advisors to help him through. At the moment, those roles are largely filled by family and a few close family friends like Randy Livingston and Coach Sid Mines. “I’m lucky. I have four brothers and two sisters. Whenever we get the chance we are out the back shooting hoops. Sometimes we get the younger ones to play in our club teams, which is fun. My older brother Darryl has been a big inspiration for me too. He keeps working on his game, day in and day out. Even though there is a lot of attention on me, he is still working harder than ever.”

At home, McDowell-White watches basketball whenever it’s on TV “I watch it a lot and whenever I see a cool move, like something Jamal Crawford would do, I go straight to the back yard and practice it for hours.” An eye to the future is what motivates McDowell-White to get up day after day and train so hard. “The opportunities that will come down the track if I work hard is what motivates me, I could really be something in the future.”

“In addition to Jamal Crawford, the players I look up to are LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. I also like John Wall and D. Wade. I have sort of patterned my game off Dwyane Wade because he plays a similar position and we kind of play the same way, we are both ‘get to the rim’ type guys,” explains McDowell-White.

It is often said that you are only as good as your competitors, and the increasing calibre of McDowell-White’s competitors is a testament to his own improvement in the game. “The toughest player I played against so far is Stanley Johnson, who many people are predicting will go top 10 in the 2015 Draft. I was on a school trip when we played his team at Mater Dei. He was fierce.”

Adidas Nations Global tournament in 2014 was another opportunity to match up against world class opponents. “Last year at Nations was probably the best experience I’ve ever had in basketball. Easily one of the best experiences. Playing against some of the best high school players in the world was pretty big for me. I could see where I was at. I want to go back to adidas Nations because playing with and against the best really elevates my game.”

“My biggest weakness at Nations was shooting, especially from the 3 point range, so if I went again, I’d like to improve on that.” Shooting remains McDowell-White’s primary focus in terms of skills development. “I work on my shooting every day.”

“I gained a lot of confidence from adidas Nations. I played pretty well. Before that I didn’t have so much confidence. Now when I go out, I feel like no one else on the court can stop me.” McDowell-White continues, “If I could go back to adidas Nations, my goal would be to play on ESPN and to be one of the top players there, without a doubt.”

Basketball has already taken Will on the road quite a bit, so what has been his favourite travel destination so far? McDowell-White is quick to answer, “I really like the United States, especially LA.” Could he see himself playing for the Lakers or the Clippers one day? “Hopefully.” He says with a smile.

That ambition might not be too far from being realised if the 6’4” point guard continues his mission to be the best he can be. “My immediate goals are to go to College in the US, to a top Div I school, beyond that, my ultimate goal is to reach the NBA.” If he does eventually play for the NBA, he will follow Nathan Jawai and Patty Mills as the third Indigenous Australian athlete to walk that path.

Darryl White with his sons William and Darryl Jnr a few years back.

“When I step onto the court, I represent my family and my culture.” McDowell-White says, although he is quick to downplay suggestions that he is a role model for other Indigenous athletes. “I feel like I am a bit young to be a role model. I am not really experienced enough, but in the future I think I will be a role model.” One thing is certain, McDowell-White is already a great example of where hard work and dedication can take you.

This relentless work ethic, instilled by his parents, will no doubt carry McDowell-White far. How far does his father hope McDowell-White will go? “I hope at the end of the day he rubs his hands together and gets them really dirty and works really hard. We’ve had a few superstars go to America over the last few years and do great things in high school and college and the NBA. I’ll be more than happy if he ends up playing basketball anywhere in the world and has a smile on his face, that will make me happy.”

What advice does McDowell-White give young players coming up in the game? “Don’t hold back. Just play your game and show what you’ve got. No regrets.”

]]>http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/09/05/test-post/feed/1Carleigh Patrickhttp://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/09/01/carleigh-patrick/
http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/09/01/carleigh-patrick/#commentsTue, 01 Sep 2015 12:40:59 +0000http://www.livonbasketball.com/?p=1522Inspiring Forward – Queensland’s Carleigh Patrick poised to play U.S. college basketball. Patrick has most recently been playing in the Queensland Basketball League with the Logan Thunder while also training with her school team (John Paul College). According to the talented youngster, “usually I train about 10-14 hours a week, including at least two games. At […]

Inspiring Forward – Queensland’s Carleigh Patrick poised to play U.S. college basketball.

Patrick has most recently been playing in the Queensland Basketball League with the Logan Thunder while also training with her school team (John Paul College). According to the talented youngster, “usually I train about 10-14 hours a week, including at least two games. At least once a week I do an acceleration session where I work on my individual agility, strength, and conditioning.”

Patrick’s work ethic is a natural result of her pure passion for the game of basketball, a sport she started playing when she was twelve years old. Patrick caught the bug quickly, and was completely consumed by the game in no time while also discovering she had a talent that set her apart from other players.

“I realised that I was actually pretty good at basketball when within my first year of playing basketball, I was asked to trial for the state team and when I showed up to the first trial, people from all different associations from across Queensland knew my name,” Patrick said.

As far as her style of play, Patrick describes, “the best feature of my game is definitely my athleticism. I love to run the floor and play an up-tempo transition game on offence which is how I score a lot of my points. I also loving getting on the glass and doing little things like put backs.”

Carleigh competes for the Logan Thunder.

With a talent such as Patrick, the sky’s the limit, but in order to achieve her goals she must take a step by step approach. Patrick exploded for a 20 plus rebound performance at Nationals in Ballarat, she touched on her overall experience.

“Nationals this year was a challenge for me as I played out of position for most of the tournament. My strength is definitely being on the perimeter because I have more space to work and drive hard to the basket, but unfortunately because of my height it was better to post me up against shorter defenders and play a back to basket game.

When I got the 20+ rebounding game on the first day of the tournament I was feeling fantastic. I was really into the game, feeling fresh and ready to carve up the rest of the week.”

As Patrick inches closer to her goals, she remains focused on what motivates her daily basketball wise. It is one of her brightest and most telling attributes. “On the court, I love being consumed by the game. To me the little 1% things are what distinguishes a good player from a great player, you might score 40 points a game but if you don’t dive on that loose ball or box out hard to get that rebound you lack a key element that will make you succeed, heart.

Patrick continued, “the main thing that motivates me to get up day after day and train so hard is knowing that eventually all my efforts will pay off towards my goals of representing Australia and playing US college ball.”

Along the way in her blossoming career, Patrick has had the benefit of encountering a few special people basketball wise. “Graeme Williams, is by far one of the greatest mentors I have come across throughout my junior career. He has been coaching me for nearly three years now on and off the court. We’ve had a long journey together and we continuously learn from one another.”

In addition to her mentor, Patrick does look up to a few basketball idols as well. “My absolute favourite players to watch are Liz Cambage, Lauren Jackson, Suzy Batkovic and Penny Taylor. I also admire people whom I’ve had the opportunity to play with such as Kristy Wallace, who’s now over in the States at Baylor University.”

En route to her primary goal of playing US college basketball, Patrick has been active on the receiving end of the recruiting process. “After doing two tours in the US, competing in the Nike Summer Showcase (Chicago, Illinois) and the Big State Flava Jam (Dallas, Texas), I received a substantial amount of interest from colleges and are currently talking with three.”

In terms of what she is looking for school wise, “The number one priority I am looking for in a school is the academic courses they offer, I’m still tossing up between a few career options but hopefully soon I will be able to settle on one.”

Patrick added, “In terms of location in the US, there’s no particular place I’d rather be situated at, although when I visited North and South Carolina I thought they were absolutely beautiful and humble.”

The end goal for Patrick is simple, yet meaningful. “I would love more than anything to one day wear the green and gold uniform and represent my country in the Olympics. Pro basketball is my end goal, possibly even Euroleague.”

Patrick also embraces the loving support from her family, which has and will play a large role in her overall success. “My family is one of the biggest inspirations in my playing career as they have always been courtside watching me train and cheering me on when I play. My parents make jokes about how basketball has ruined their lives, but they never fail to drive me to every session no matter how early or late and support me 110%.”

]]>http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/09/01/carleigh-patrick/feed/0Spotlight on: Matt Freemanhttp://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/08/06/matt-freeman/
http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/08/06/matt-freeman/#commentsFri, 07 Aug 2015 00:20:51 +0000http://www.livoncoaching.com/?p=335Kiwi Pride – Matt Freeman commits to University of Oklahoma after his second showing at Adidas Nations With the NBA as his ultimate goal, 6’9″ Kiwi stretch 4 Matt Freeman has committed to the University of Oklahoma as the next step in his journey from Auckland to playing pro basketball. The decision, which Freeman announced […]

]]>Kiwi Pride – Matt Freeman commits to University of Oklahoma after his second showing at Adidas Nations

With the NBA as his ultimate goal, 6’9″ Kiwi stretch 4 Matt Freeman has committed to the University of Oklahoma as the next step in his journey from Auckland to playing pro basketball. The decision, which Freeman announced today, comes only days after his second appearance at the Adidas Nations tournament where he shot well from the 3 pt line.

Freeman makes a layup at Adidas Nations in Long Beach, CA, August 2015.

The Adidas Championships Tour, organised and coached by Randy Livingston of LivOn Basketball, started in Las Vegas at the Adidas Uprising Championships and culminated in Long Beach where Team Asia Pacific played alongside the very best high school teams from across the USA, China, Africa, South America and Europe.

Signing with Oklahoma is a significant milestone in Freeman’s playing career, which started at an early age. “I was eight years old when I first started playing. I realized at a young age that I was gifted with height, and my Dad got me playing. When I was younger I wasn’t very coordinated, but I was taller than most everyone.”

Freeman’s height is a nice luxury, but the young man has put in a lot of hard work to develop a unique skill set that has helped him become a talented international prospect. Freeman explains, “I train every day. Most days it’s morning and night. In terms of diet, I don’t have a regimented diet, but thanks to my Mum she makes sure I eat well. My goal at the end of the day is to make the NBA, and I know if I don’t get out of bed in the morning other people will. If I want to make the league, I need to sacrifice sleep, and going out with friends to do all the hard training.”

Freeman also credits his parents, Jonathan and Louise Freeman, as having a major impact on his success to date. “My Mum plays a big role for me. I wouldn’t be here and the man I am today without her. She always has my back. She is always keeping me organized and providing me with the right food and making the right decisions. At the end of the day she is my biggest role model.”

“My Dad provides for all of us. He’s worked hard for my brother and I. He has allowed me to get the opportunities that I’ve been able to get. He’s given me my work ethic.”

In addition to his family, Freeman has learned to soak up knowledge from his coaching mentors during his career thus far as well. “All my coaches have been an influence on me. Just recently I’ve been doing some mentor performance training and that has been a huge help. Everyone that has supported me and influenced me over my basketball career has been huge for me,” Freeman added.

“At Nations last year, I was able to build my relationship with Randy Livingston. It was a big eye opener last year to play on such a big stage to play against such great players. I went in there not realizing what I was up against, I came in quite nervous at the beginning but built my confidence as it went along. This year I was much more prepared.”

Freeman makes a 3 pointer at the 3×3 U18 World Championships in Hungary, June 2015.

2015 has been a big year for Freeman. In addition to Adidas Nations, he also had the opportunity to showcase his talents at the FIBA U18 3×3 World Championships, where the New Zealand team took the gold medal after beating a strong Argentinian team at the Finals in Hungary. The four man team consisted of Freeman, Sam Timmons, Tai Wynyard and Nikau McCullough.

Freeman described what that tournament meant to him, “the whole thing was pretty huge for us. We have all been friends for a long time so going over there with all my friends was all that much better that we won. We will cherish it for the rest of our lives. No team wanted it more than us. We went in there knowing it wouldn’t be easy. Wearing our names on our back with our country’s name on the front we took a lot of pride in that. We were excited to bring home a gold medal and trophy for the country. We didn’t feel pressure, but we felt motivation because we knew everyone was watching back home. We knew from the start that we had a team that could win. We didn’t underestimate Argentina in the final, but after beating Spain in the semifinal we felt like we could win the whole thing.”

Freeman also attended the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders camp that took place at Baruch College in New York City in February, 2015, where Freeman was the sole Kiwi invitee, a fact he is very proud of. “I love representing my country, whether it’s part of a New Zealand team or as part of another team.” Freeman was joined at Adidas Nations this year by three of his Kiwi compatriots, with the rest of the team being made up of talented Aussies including William McDowell-White and Harry Froling.

Freeman’s decision to commit to Oklahoma, follows an extended period of recruiting where he was heavily pursued by several top-tier Division I schools including Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, USC and a couple others.

Shortly before making his decision to to commit to Oklahoma, Freeman told us his criteria included “being in a nice area, that is safe and I can feel at home. In terms of the team, a group of nice guys that I can get along with. A big thing is the coaching staff, and that they’re locked in. I want a coaching staff with stability. Style of play as well, I like to run the floor, so something that will allow me to stretch the floor as a big man. At the end of the day I’m also going to college to get a degree, so academics are important. I don’t know what I want to study yet, I have a few ideas but nothing I’m set on. I want to go somewhere that pushes me academically.” The University of Oklahoma certainly seems to be a good fit based on Freeman’s objectives.

Freeman is clear on his goals for the short term and his long term future, “Depending on how quickly I develop, I like the idea of finishing college and getting my degree before I decide declaring for the draft. I’m just taking one day at a time for now,” Freeman said.

]]>http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/08/06/matt-freeman/feed/12015 NBA Summer Leaguehttp://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/07/26/2015-nba-summer-league/
http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/07/26/2015-nba-summer-league/#commentsSun, 26 Jul 2015 14:56:22 +0000http://www.livonbasketball.com/?p=1424Randy Livingston Coaches with the Milwaukee Bucks Current Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd and Randy Livingston go way back. In 1992 they were named co-Players of the Year as the two top high school players in the USA. They also played together in Phoenix for the Suns in 1999 and 2000. So when it […]

Current Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd and Randy Livingston go way back. In 1992 they were named co-Players of the Year as the two top high school players in the USA. They also played together in Phoenix for the Suns in 1999 and 2000. So when it became time for Kidd to form his 2015 NBA Summer League staff, he looked Livingston’s way.

Livingston gladly accepted the role as Assistant Coach with Milwaukee for the mid-Summer NBA event held in Las Vegas. The opportunity to be immersed in a basketball setting such as NBA Summer League is an optimal opportunity for those connected to the game. Livingston helped coach the young Milwaukee Bucks group of players in Las Vegas, and spoke to the benefit of participating with the club prior to his upcoming Adidas Nations schedule.

“To have the opportunity to learn Milwaukee’s system and be able to implement some of those plays with my own team at Adidas Nations is huge. It is a great chance for me to learn more about coaching and basketball period. The NBA Summer League is a great meeting place for everyone looking to network and learn more about the game, I’m thankful to Jason [Kidd] for inviting me to join the team and help teach his guys while watching some of the world’s top level talent play here in Las Vegas,” Livingston said.

Kidd appointed Sean Sweeney as the head coach for the 2015 Milwaukee Bucks Summer League squad. Sweeney was an assistant for Kidd when he was head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.

Sweeney explained the positive impact Livingston had on his team while in Las Vegas. “Randy is a winner, and a true professional. It is good for our guys to be around that. At the end of the day you want to be surrounded by winners. Randy’s experience at the professional level is a great teaching tool, he is able to connect with our guys and teach them about his experiences and how he views the game as a former player,” Sweeney explained.

Randy caught up with Australia’s own Cameron Bairstow of the Chicago Bulls.

Sweeney continued, “I think Randy is great for our team out here and will be great for future teams as a coach. He has all the abilities you look for.”

Livingston took the opportunity of being in Las Vegas to catch up with Aussie phenom Cameron Bairstow of the Chicago Bulls who was enjoying his Summer League experience. Cameron is a fan of the talent coming from Australia and said there are several high school players coming up the ranks with NBA potential.

Surely, the time spent in and around the Milwaukee Bucks organization while in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League was worthwhile, and is yet another benchmark for Livingston’s non-playing career. As a committed individual looking to expand his knowledge of the sport, and further his connections ever more (including at the NBA level), Livingston will be able to draw from this experience like he has been able to do in his career time and time again as a player, coach, and now business owner.

]]>http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/07/26/2015-nba-summer-league/feed/0Spotlight on: Anneli Maleyhttp://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/06/23/anneli-maley/
http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/06/23/anneli-maley/#commentsTue, 23 Jun 2015 18:20:11 +0000http://www.livoncoaching.com/?p=291Rising Star – Anneli Maley continues her path to the top with guidance from her parents An incredibly skilled rebounder for her position, standout Anneli Maley (6’1″, Class of 2017) hopes to take the lessons learned from her father (a former professional player), mother (a former collegiate player) and the influential coaches who she has […]

]]>Rising Star – Anneli Maley continues her path to the top with guidance from her parents

An incredibly skilled rebounder for her position, standout Anneli Maley (6’1″, Class of 2017) hopes to take the lessons learned from her father (a former professional player), mother (a former collegiate player) and the influential coaches who she has been fortunate enough to play for, with her to the next stages of her career.

Anneli with her Mum and Dad, Karianne and Paul Maley.

Maley speaks candidly about how influential her parents have been in her basketball career. “My Dad introduced me to the game, enough said – haha. He has always been there for me when it came to my basketball, both my parents have actually. My Mum has equally influenced me throughout my career, both my parents took me to trainings at ridiculous hours of the morning, and drove me to trainings that were hours away from home, given up countless weekends and holidays to come watch me play and for that I can’t thank them enough.”

Maley and her Dad certainly have a great bond, on and off the court. She continues light-heartedly, “well he always tells me that I have a long way to go before I am able to shoot like him and I always respond with, well you will never rebound like me.”

When asked what some of her favorite things are about the game, what she has come to excel at, Maley explains, “I love gaining possession of the ball, doing the 1% things that help out a team, I love the team environment, the idea that a team is your family. I love unity and the connection between me and my teammates, I also love all the work time on the court and off the court, I just love the game.”

Anneli Maley representing her home state of Victoria at the 2015 U18 Australian Junior Championships in Ballarat.

Maley has also learned lessons from a range of coaches who have coached and mentored her throughout her basketball journey. Maley ran through some of the people that have helped her the most. “Some past coaches that have really influenced me include Jonothan Goodman, Ben Cukier, Paul Flynn and Zoe Carr. Jono and the last two both coached me at a state level. Their insight into the game really was next level and I really can say I learned so much from them and for that I can’t thank them enough. Kristen Veal is currently one of the most influential people in my basketball journey. Being an amazing player herself, I just learn so much from her every day. I absolutely idolise her and her knowledge of the game is literally out of this world.”

This year, Maley has been playing on a scholarship at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (COE), which has clearly played a formative role in Maley’s basketball development. “Being at the COE means that we are exposed to a lot of education about being a professional athlete, on top of physical training, that is eating right, sleeping enough, and really looking after our bodies. My diet is really to refuel and replenish my body after training and really maintaining and gaining strength. I have 4-5 team trainings a week and three gym sessions that I also complete with my team. On top of that I try to get at least 200 shots up a day and at least 3 times a week I have a skills session that focuses on ball handling. We are also very privileged up here to have amazing staff that run these sessions. Brad Davidson runs an amazing shooting session which I try to get in 1-2 times a week. I pride myself on my work ethic, so whenever my school schedule allows me, I will always ask my coach for an extra individual workout when I can.”

Anneli grips the U18 trophy after playing a pivotal role in Victoria’s victory.

With Maley’s stellar play comes decisions for the next steps in her career. Paul Maley (Anneli’s Dad) says, “Anneli isn’t entirely certain that she will go to US College; there is a strong possibility that she will, but she also wants to keep the option of staying home, playing in the WNBL and attending an Australian university open. That being said, I think the most important thing for Anneli will be to find the right fit, and I think a huge portion of this comes down to finding the right coach. She has serious drive and ambition and we want to find a program that is committed to her development. She has put herself in a position (through a combination of hard work and some good fortune), where it looks like she is going to have lots of options. The challenge will be finding a solid academic university in a nice place, with a highly competitive program that has a culture of development and treats players with respect and kindness. Hard work is a given with Anneli.”

Even though Maley’s parents are both used to travel from their respective careers, there was a little concern from the two when she ventured off to the COE. “Our concern for Anneli when she headed up to the COE as a 15 year old was the amount of pressure at such a young age; I worried about the possibility of burnout. At the end of the day, what will sustain any athlete through pressure is a deep love of the game (I think). Fortunately, it seems like Anneli’s time at the COE has only strengthened her drive and her love of the game. My advice to Anneli will be to always keep in mind what it is she loves about playing basketball and to believe in herself,” Paul said.

Without her immediate future decided quite yet, Maley did go on and tell us about her goals, “so in the near future I have the U19 World Championships in Russia, I am really looking forward to representing my country. Being double bottom age for that does not intimidate me, it only makes me want it more. It also means that I will have an opportunity to do U19s as a top age 2 years from now which really is something that I hope to do. I also would love to go to College in teh US. That has been a dream for me ever since I was little.”

Maley continued, “after I hopefully have the chance to play College ball, I can’t say I want anything more than to be an Opal. To represent my country at an Olympics would be an honour. I would also love to play professionally in Europe and the WNBA as well as the WNBL.”

Paul added, “that if she keeps a level head, follows her heart, believes in herself and always gives 100% – everything else will take care of itself. Fortunately she seems to be on the right track.”

A rising Australian talent indeed, Maley will continue to have her options open as long as she continues with her hard work and preparation, all of which seem to show no sign of stopping.

]]>http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/06/23/anneli-maley/feed/0Spotlight on: Callum Barkerhttp://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/06/13/callum-barker/
http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/06/13/callum-barker/#commentsSat, 13 Jun 2015 12:16:51 +0000http://www.livoncoaching.com/?p=326Dedication Pays Off – Callum Barker decides on Bradley University as he takes his game to next level In 2014, Callum Barker competed in the Adidas Nations tournament, now the 6’9’’ bruising forward has committed to the resurgent NCAA Division I school, Bradley University. Barker’s performance at Nations showcased his game and talents alongside players from all around […]

]]>Dedication Pays Off – Callum Barker decides on Bradley University as he takes his game to next level

In 2014, Callum Barker competed in the Adidas Nations tournament, now the 6’9’’ bruising forward has committed to the resurgent NCAA Division I school, Bradley University. Barker’s performance at Nations showcased his game and talents alongside players from all around the globe, giving him the opportunity to compete at a high level and put his name on the map.

Cal defends the post at adidas Nations 2014.

Barker had been playing basketball at a high level, including representing his home state of Tasmania for many years before attracting the attention of college scouts. “After the U18 Australian National tournament in 2013 in Brisbane, Queensland, was when I really started to get calls from college coaches and emails,” Barker said.

Barker, who has been a standout while representing Tasmania as a player, and who calls Hobart home, soaked up the experience of playing with high level teammates, but also receiving solid coaching along the way.

“Justin Schueller has been a great influence, he really helped me get serious about trying to get to the next level,” Barker added.

For Barker, the motivation to get better and to see where the game will take him comes from the game itself. “I like being competitive and having a chance to win. I like travelling around the country and competing in the team environment.”

Barker continued, “I pretty much train everyday with my various teams. I lift six days a week in the gym. I don’t really follow a special diet. Every time I get up and train I know I’m getting better than someone who is not training.”

Playing with solid teammates growing up, Barker was able to become a part of something special for Tasmania. Quite, an achievement considering Tasmania is Australia’s smallest state by size and population. The young, Bradley-bound forward touched on that a bit. “We knew that we had a pretty special group in Tasmania. Usually you have one or two really good players, but we had 10 good players that fit in really well and we knew we had something special for Tasmania. We were the first to earn a bronze medal in U18 competition for Tasmania.”

Barker missed out on playing in the U20’s with Tasmania in 2015 because he opted to go to a prep school in Massachusetts to increase his eligibility status for college options. Fortunately, it was a good choice for Barker who made the most of the situation and experience. “In Massachusetts, the game was a lot more fast paced and every guy is fighting for his spot and minutes. You never know if you’re going to play for sure. It seems like every guy was athletic and could finish above the rim.”

As far as the weather on the East Coast, Barker explained, “It was sort of tough. I thought in Hobart it was cold. It was a new experience dealing with the weather on the East Coast.”

Cal makes a free throw, a skill he perfected in his backyard in Hobart, Tasmania.

Barker has enjoyed the support of his parents throughout his career as they have dished out their support for him each in their own way. “My Mum has always been there to support me. She has always pushed me to the best I can be. She makes sure I’m motivated to have a better game on the next time out if I have a bad game.”

Barker also spoke of his Dad’s influence, explaining that he was the person who helped teach him the game, “My Dad, he’s the one who taught me how to shoot properly in the backyard. How to be a good teammate and things like that.”

Before committing to a school, Barker went on record with what he was looking for in terms of universities. “In a college I really want somewhere with a good team culture, and where everyone wants to win. I don’t really care about individual stats, I want to win. I want to experience the NCAA Tournament too. Academically, I want to get a degree that matters, so I can finish basketball and step right into a job that will help me with the rest of my life.”

Along the way, and especially en route to his next stop at Bradley, Barker has enjoyed the services of LivOn Basketball and Randy Livingston. “I’m very fortunate to have Randy in Hobart. Before adidas Nations, Randy got me in game shape and worked with me to prepare to play against the best players in the world. adidas Nations was one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had as a player. You get a lot of gear, and the player’s lounge is pretty cool too. Basically, you have all you want for a week and a half at Adidas Nations,” Barker concluded.

]]>http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/06/13/callum-barker/feed/2Spotlight on: William McDowell-Whitehttp://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/05/11/william-mcdowell-white/
http://www.livonbasketball.com/blog/2015/05/11/william-mcdowell-white/#commentsMon, 11 May 2015 09:46:50 +0000http://www.livoncoaching.com/?p=283Like Father, Like Son – William McDowell-White set to make a mark in his chosen sport, like his father before him. There is excitement brewing in basketball circles, with coaches, scouts and fans wondering just how far William McDowell-White can go. It seems universally agreed that the sky’s the limit for this promising Class of […]

]]>Like Father, Like Son – William McDowell-White
set to make a mark in his chosen sport,
like his father before him.

There is excitement brewing in basketball circles, with coaches, scouts and fans wondering just how far William McDowell-White can go. It seems universally agreed that the sky’s the limit for this promising Class of 2016 point guard who hails from Queensland.

Darryl White in his heyday, playing in the AFL for the Brisbane Lions in 2003.

McDowell-White is the son of AFL football star, Darryl White, who is a triple Premiership winner with the Brisbane Lions, an inductee of the AFLNT Hall of Fame and a member of the AFL Indigenous Team of the Century, “there’s a lot of Aboriginal players who played over the last 100 years so getting picked in the final 24 positions out of that mob was a real honour,” Darryl says with pride.

William McDowell-White is White’s second son (after Darryl Junior). McDowell-White has played basketball since he was five years old. “Dad was the first person to recognise I had a talent for basketball. He was the first one to put a basketball in my hands,” says McDowell-White, adding, “I tried playing AFL too, but I kept growing and Dad pushed me more towards basketball, and I just loved basketball better.”

Usually sports stars encourage their children to pursue their own sport. This case is unique because in addition to loving football, White is also a huge basketball fan. “I really loved Magic Johnson, basketball is all I wanted to do, but I ended up getting drafted into the AFL so that was that. Now I’m getting the chance to share my love of basketball with my kids.”

Most of White’s seven children have played both AFL and basketball, including his two daughters, but most seem to agree with dad, that basketball is the sport with a bigger future. “You can’t play AFL outside Australia, but basketball is an international game, you can play all over the world and for William, the world is his oyster.”

White is referring to McDowell-White’s potential as a basketball player, which became apparent pretty early, as McDowell-White explains, “there was one time when we went up to Darwin for a family holiday and I played Dad one-on-one. I was about 10 years old, and I beat him. So I thought ‘if I can beat him at 10 I must be pretty good.’ I was pretty hot that day. I don’t think I really missed a shot.” That moment was a turning point for McDowell-White, setting him on the path to success.

McDowell-White is quick to point out that his success on the court is a family affair. “The two people who have had the most influence on me have been Mum and Dad. They are the ones who are constantly pushing me because they know what I could achieve.” McDowell-White elaborates, “My biggest role model is Dad for sure because he has been at the top of his profession. But the person I look up to the most is Mum. She has had to deal with a lot, with my Dad being away for work a lot and she had to take care of everything.”

Mums are often the unsung behind-the-scenes heroes who don’t seem to get as much credit as they should. Bianca McDowell is no exception. McDowell is not only a huge supporter of McDowell-White but she seems to be the glue that sticks the whole family together. “Mum is probably the biggest part of all this. She pretty much does everything for me. She takes care of me and makes sure everything is alright. She is pretty much the reason why I am this good right now. Mum is the core of everything.”

Coming from a tight-knit family environment has certainly given McDowell-White every chance to thrive. Making the family an inner sanctum, where everyone can relax and be themselves is really important to Darryl White, who knows from his own experience playing football, how important having that trusted support system really is. “You need mentors,” confirms White, “I had a few. Michael McLean was a father figure to a lot of us Indigenous boys. He gave us the fatherly advice as well as the footy advice that we needed to succeed. Martin Leslie and Roger Merrett both helped me too. I wouldn’t have made it as far as I did without their advice. When you come from a place where you are surrounded by family 24×7, to somewhere that you don’t have any family, you really need those shoulders to lean on.”

“Gathering those right people around you at the start is so important,” continues White, “you only play professionally for a short time. I played for 14 years and that time went really quickly. You’re going to miss home, you’re going to miss friends and family. You only have a short career, work hard and make the most of it. The harder you work early, they better it will be down the track. If you give 120% and make mistakes you wont do that bad.”

White moved his family to northern Queensland to fulfil a work contract, but Alice Springs is still home. “My wife is from Darwin so we are Territory people, but unfortunately we don’t get back there as often as we’d like.”

William McDowell-White with Randy Livingston at the 2015 U18 Australian Junior Championship.

White is confident that when McDowell-White leaves home to pursue a career in basketball, that he will create his own inner circle of trusted friends and advisors to help him through. At the moment, those roles are largely filled by family and a few close family friends like Randy Livingston and Coach Sid Mines. “I’m lucky. I have four brothers and two sisters. Whenever we get the chance we are out the back shooting hoops. Sometimes we get the younger ones to play in our club teams, which is fun. My older brother Darryl has been a big inspiration for me too. He keeps working on his game, day in and day out. Even though there is a lot of attention on me, he is still working harder than ever.”

At home, McDowell-White watches basketball whenever it’s on TV “I watch it a lot and whenever I see a cool move, like something Jamal Crawford would do, I go straight to the back yard and practice it for hours.” An eye to the future is what motivates McDowell-White to get up day after day and train so hard. “The opportunities that will come down the track if I work hard is what motivates me, I could really be something in the future.”

“In addition to Jamal Crawford, the players I look up to are LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. I also like John Wall and D. Wade. I have sort of patterned my game off Dwyane Wade because he plays a similar position and we kind of play the same way, we are both ‘get to the rim’ type guys,” explains McDowell-White.

It is often said that you are only as good as your competitors, and the increasing calibre of McDowell-White’s competitors is a testament to his own improvement in the game. “The toughest player I played against so far is Stanley Johnson, who many people are predicting will go top 10 in the 2015 Draft. I was on a school trip when we played his team at Mater Dei. He was fierce.”

Adidas Nations Global tournament in 2014 was another opportunity to match up against world class opponents. “Last year at Nations was probably the best experience I’ve ever had in basketball. Easily one of the best experiences. Playing against some of the best high school players in the world was pretty big for me. I could see where I was at. I want to go back to adidas Nations because playing with and against the best really elevates my game.”

“My biggest weakness at Nations was shooting, especially from the 3 point range, so if I went again, I’d like to improve on that.” Shooting remains McDowell-White’s primary focus in terms of skills development. “I work on my shooting every day.”

“I gained a lot of confidence from adidas Nations. I played pretty well. Before that I didn’t have so much confidence. Now when I go out, I feel like no one else on the court can stop me.” McDowell-White continues, “If I could go back to adidas Nations, my goal would be to play on ESPN and to be one of the top players there, without a doubt.”

Basketball has already taken Will on the road quite a bit, so what has been his favourite travel destination so far? McDowell-White is quick to answer, “I really like the United States, especially LA.” Could he see himself playing for the Lakers or the Clippers one day? “Hopefully.” He says with a smile.

That ambition might not be too far from being realised if the 6’4” point guard continues his mission to be the best he can be. “My immediate goals are to go to College in the US, to a top Div I school, beyond that, my ultimate goal is to reach the NBA.” If he does eventually play for the NBA, he will follow Nathan Jawai and Patty Mills as the third Indigenous Australian athlete to walk that path.

Darryl White with his sons William and Darryl Jnr a few years back.

“When I step onto the court, I represent my family and my culture.” McDowell-White says, although he is quick to downplay suggestions that he is a role model for other Indigenous athletes. “I feel like I am a bit young to be a role model. I am not really experienced enough, but in the future I think I will be a role model.” One thing is certain, McDowell-White is already a great example of where hard work and dedication can take you.

This relentless work ethic, instilled by his parents, will no doubt carry McDowell-White far. How far does his father hope McDowell-White will go? “I hope at the end of the day he rubs his hands together and gets them really dirty and works really hard. We’ve had a few superstars go to America over the last few years and do great things in high school and college and the NBA. I’ll be more than happy if he ends up playing basketball anywhere in the world and has a smile on his face, that will make me happy.”

What advice does McDowell-White give young players coming up in the game? “Don’t hold back. Just play your game and show what you’ve got. No regrets.”